Annealing-box.



No. 727,788. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

M. D. GRIMM.

ANNEALING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6, 1902.

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No. "[27,788.v

UNITED STATES Patented May 12, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

A NNEALlNG-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 727,788, dated May 12, 1903. Application filed October 6, 1902. Serial NolZ6,138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MILLERD. GRIMM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wellsville, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Annealing- Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in annealing-boxes and theinvention has forits primary object to construct a box with means whereby the gaseswhich accumulate in the interior of the box may escape, and thus prevent damage which would be done to the box were these gases allowed to remain within the same and also prevent damage to the plates or sheets which are being annealed within the box.

In the process of annealing iron, steel, or other metal plates or sheets it is the practice to place these plates or sheets Within a furnace, the plates being inclosed by what is termed the annealing-box. During the process of annealing, the gases which arise from the oil in which vthe plates have been submerged previous to placing the same in the box accumulate in the annealing-box, and where no vent is provided for. the same they destroy the seal around the lower end of the box and permit the flames within the furnace to enter into contact with the plates or sheets and damage or injure the same. My invention aims to prevent this by the provision of automatic means whereby the gases that have accumulated are permitted to escape into the furnace or may be conducted to a point outside the furnace to the open atmosphere, as may be desired.

Briefly described, my invention comprises a closed box provided with a port or vent at its top, which is normally sealed by the flapvalve which is raised by the pressure of the accumulated gases, whereby the latter may escape through the port or ventinto the furnace. I may, where it is desired, connect a pipe or flue to the port or vent in the top of the annealing-box and conduct thispipe or flue to the exterior of the furnace and mount a valve on the pipe outside of the furnacewall, so that cold air may be excluded from entering through the pipe or flue into the annealing-box.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a detail perspective View of my improved annealing-box. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing the box as it is used in practice for inclosing the plates being annealed, the latter being supported upon a suitable bed-plate. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the annealing-box, showinga portion of the oven in section and the pipe or flue connected to the port or vent in the top of the annealing-box for conducting the gases to the exterior of the furnace.

To put my invention into practice, I provide a box 1, which comprises end wall, side walls, and a top, which are preferably cast integral, as this is a much more desirable, as Well as a preferable, construction. The top of this box is provided with an enlargement or boss 2, and centrally through this enlargement or boss and through the top of the boxis a port or vent 3, communicating with the interior of the box. The top of the box carries eyes 4, in which is mounted by means of trunnions or pins 5 the flap-valve 6, which is preferably provided with a Valve-seat 7, which may be composed of asbestos or like materiahand a convenient method of attachin g the same is by a screw 8, passing through the top of the valve 6. The eyes 4 are made ofa considerable greater diameter than the pins 5 in order that the valve will work very freely on its pivot under the pressure of the gases within the box 1. I preferably construct the upper end of the boss orenlargement 2 with a recess or countersink 9, whereby the flue or pipe 10 may beseatedin the upper end of the boss and conducted to the exterior of the furnace-wall l1,'as seen in Fig.

'3. Where this pipe is employed, the eyes the enlargement or boss so as to receive the pipe or flue 10 this pipe or flue may be connected with the port or vent'3 without requiring any alteration of the box or the removal of the valve 6, the latter simply being thrown back out of the Way of the pipe, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In practice the plates 14, which are being annealed, are placed on a suitable bed or table 15, which is usually mounted on rollers 16, so that the same can be easily pushed into the oven. When the plates are placed on the bed or table 15, the annealing-box is placed over the plates and all air is excluded therefrom, as well as the flames from the furnace, by placing sand, as at 17, around the lower edge of the box. Where the flue or pipe 10 is employed, I will also use this packing of sand around the boss 2, soas to form an air-tight seal around the lower end of the flue or pipe 10.

Heretofore as the gases would accumulate within the annealing-box they would escape between the lower edge of the box and the plate, thus forcing the sand seal away and permitting air to enter into the box, as well as permitting the flames to come in contact with the plates, and thus damage the same. With my improved annealing'box this is effectually prevented, since the accumulation of gases in the box elevates the valve 6 and allows the gases to pass off into the furnace, where they are consumed, the valve immediately reseating itself when the pressure is decreased. Where the pipe or flue 10 is employed, the excess gases passing ofi through the same raising the valve at the outer end thereof, it immediately reseats itself when the gases have escaped, thus effectually shutting ofi the entry of cold air through the flue or pipe. The journal-pins 5 being of considerable less diameter than the eyes in which they are journaled, the valve will always work freely, irrespective of the amount of expansion which the metal may receive due to the intense heat to which it is subjected.

In the practice of the invention it will be observed that various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An annealing-box provided on its top with an integral boss or enlargement and having a port or vent therethrough, in combination with a flap-valve adapted to normally close the port or vent by engagement with the boss or enlargement, substantially as described.

2. An annealing-box provided with an integral enlargement or boss provided with a port therein, eyes on the top of said box, and a flap-valve loosely journaled therein to normally close said port in said enlargement or boss, substantially as described.

Au annealingbox provided with a port or vent, in combination with a valve for closing said vent, eyes secured on said box and provided with apertures, trunnions on said valve, said trunnions mounted in said eyes and being of a less diameter than that of the aperture, in said eyes, substantially as described.

4. An annealing-box, an integral enlargement or boss thereon provided with a central port or vent, a flap-valve mounted on the box and adapted to normally close said port or vent, and a valve-seat removably secured to said valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MILLER D. GRIMM.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILsoN, E. E. POTTER. 

